androidhttp://www.maclife.com/taxonomy/term/3881/all
enApple Daily: Android Devices for Apple Store Credit; Steve Jobs Documentary Controversyhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_android_devices_apple_store_credit_steve_jobs_documentary_controversy
<!--paging_filter--><p>If you happen to known an Android user who's been wanting to trade in his or her&nbsp;Apple device for an iPhone, you should tell them that they might have the chance to do so soon. In other news, Apple's not too happy about a damning new documentary about Steve Jobs.</p><h3>Apple to Include Android Devices in Its Trade-In Program</h3><p>Up until now, Apple's <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/recycling_program_now_lets_you_trade_old_stuff_apple_gift_cards" target="_blank">recycling program</a>&nbsp;has centered on trading in old Apple devices for store credit toward the purchase of new Apple products, but a new report from <a href="http://9to5mac.com/2015/03/16/apple-will-offer-android-switchers-gift-cards-to-trade-in-rival-smartphones-for-iphones/" target="_blank">9to5Mac</a> claims that the Cupertino company will start accepting Android devices for the service as well. Apple has repeatedly tried to win over devotees of other operating systems, but seldom so directly.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/03/recyling.png" width="620" height="275" /></p><p>The amount of credit Android users will receive in return will of course depend on the condition and age of the particular device. Apple Store employees will reportedly receive training for the program sometime this week, and the program itself is expected to go live in the near future.</p><p>Apple is usually&nbsp;sparing when it makes direct attempts to win over users of Google's rival operating system, such as when it issued<a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_releases_iphone_transition_guide_former_android_users" target="_blank"> a guide </a>for importing data to iOS from Android devices last September. It often prefers to take an indirect approach, as in Apple's decision to bring gigantic screens to the iPhone. Judging by last quarter's earnings report, it worked <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_apple_tops_samsung_smartphone_sales_hires_own_security_force" target="_blank">rather well</a>.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>New Steve Jobs Documentary Frowned On By Apple Execs</h3><p>Alex Gibney's documentary <em>Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine</em> premiered at SXSW in Austin this weekend, and it's noteworthy for painting a grimmer picture of the Apple co-founder than we've seen in most film takes on Jobs's life so far. It acknowledges Jobs's undeniable talent, yes, but it's also intent on demonstrating that Jobs often seemed like he lacked the capacity for empathy.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/03/anger.jpg" width="620" height="413" /></p><p>Apple executive Eddy Cue isn't happy about it. In a <a href="https://twitter.com/cue/status/577493714567852032" target="_blank">tweet</a> from this morning, he said that he was "Very disappointed in SJ: Man in the Machine" and that it was "an inaccurate and mean-spirited view of my friend." Cue added in a <a href="https://twitter.com/cue/status/577495428696043520" target="_blank">following tweet</a> that he believes the upcoming book <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_new_apple_watch_details_new_steve_jobs_bio_mac_photos_beta" target="_blank"><em>Becoming Steve Jobs</em></a>, which claims to show Jobs's metamorphosis from a "reckless upstart" into a "visionary leader," is "well done and the first to get it right."</p><p>The <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/steve-jobs-man-machine-sxsw-781538" target="_blank">Hollywood Reporter </a>called the film a "convincing, but perhaps unnecessary, primer on Steve Jobs's flaws and misdeeds" and emphasizes that Gibney is "not in search of a complete portrait." The film as a whole does cover the high points of Jobs's life, it claims, but Gibney apparently digs in "only when he has a negative anecdote to tell."</p><p>Not surprisingly, Apple reportedly "refused to cooperate" with the makers of the film.</p><p><em>Follow this article's writer, <a href="https://twitter.com/LeifJohnson" target="_blank">Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_android_devices_apple_store_credit_steve_jobs_documentary_controversy#commentsNewsandroidBecoming Steve JobsdocumentaryGoogleiOS 8iPadiphoneMan in the MachineSteve JobsSXSWMon, 16 Mar 2015 23:02:23 +0000Leif Johnson21415 at http://www.maclife.comApple Daily: Cook Remembers Jobs; 2014 iOS Sales; Samsung iPhone Memoryhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_cook_remembers_jobs_2014_ios_sales_samsung_iphone_memory
<!--paging_filter--><p>Apple fans are once again remembering the life and times of Steve Jobs today on what would have been the 60th birthday of the legendary co-founder. In our Tuesday edition of Apple Daily, we'll find out how current CEO Tim Cook acknowledged that date, along with news that Samsung may still be in the iPhone memory game, the latest Apple acquisition, and how much of the smartphone market iOS and Android have gobbled up to date.</p><h3>Apple CEO Tim Cook Commemorates Steve Jobs's 60th Birthday</h3><p>It's been just over four years since the death of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, but his predecessor certainly hasn't forgotten the influential legacy of the man who brought him into the Cupertino fold. On Tuesday morning, current CEO Tim Cook&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/tim_cook/status/570169805413552128" target="_blank">started his day with a tweet</a>&nbsp;acknowledging Jobs' birthday on February 24.</p><p><img src="http://www.maclife.com/files/u220903/steve_jobs_holds_an_apple_620px.jpg" alt="Steve Jobs holds Apple" width="620" height="300" /></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">"Remembering Steve, who would have turned 60 today," Cook wrote, capped off by a quote from his former mentor: "The only way to do great work is to love what you do."</span></p><p>Although Cook's influence has changed many things at Apple over the last four years, there's little doubt that the executive team and the iPhone maker's global workforce continue to live by those words. (For more Steve Jobs quotes, click <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/features/10_best_steve_jobs_quotes" target="_blank">here</a>.)</p><h3>Next-Gen iPhone Will Mostly Use Samsung Memory Chips</h3><p><a href="http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/tech/2015/02/133_173939.html" target="_blank"><em>The Korea Times</em></a> reported late Monday that Samsung Electronics appears to still be very much in the Apple manufacturing game, despite rumors of an icier relationship between the two patent foes. An unnamed industry official claims Samsung will provide "at least half" of the DRAM chips needed for this year's presumed iPhone 6S, and the door appears to be open for Apple to increase that amount, should it become necessary. Samsung will also reportedly provide mobile processors for the same device, which is widely expected to arrive this fall.</p><p><img src="/files/u220903/samsung_memory_chips_620px.png" alt="Samsung mobile memory chips" width="620" height="300" /></p><h3>Apple Acquires Audio Plug-In Developer Camel Audio</h3><p>Apple's music-centric software GarageBand and Logic Pro X could become a lot more powerful in the future, thanks to Cupertino's acquisition of music software plug-in maker Camel Audio. <a href="http://www.loopinsight.com/2015/02/24/apples-response-to-camel-audio-buyout-rumors/" target="_blank">According to The Loop</a>, the creators of Alchemy quietly closed their doors back on January 8, removing all products for purchase and limiting email and download support for previous purchases.</p><p><img src="/files/u220903/camel_audio_alchemy_620px.png" alt="Camel Audio - Alchemy" width="620" height="300" /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2015/02/23/apple-acquires-camel-audio/" target="_blank">As noted by MacRumors</a>, Camel Audio's corporate registry now points to Apple's London address at 100 New Bridge Street, while the company's only director is listed as Heather Joy Morrison, one of Cupertino's fleet of attorneys. An Apple spokesperson confirmed the acquisition to The Loop in their typically standard way: “Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans."</p><h3>iOS, Android Now Dominate 96.3 Percent of Smartphone Market</h3><p>Poor Microsoft and BlackBerry: <a href="http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS25450615" target="_blank">The latest quarterly smartphone data from IDC</a> is now available, and it shows Apple and Google absolutely dominating the worldwide market with 96.3 percent of shipments made during the fourth quarter of last year, a slight increase from 95.6 percent during the same quarter in 2013.</p><p><img src="/files/u220903/iphone_hovers_over_earth_620px.png" alt="iPhone hovers over Earth" width="620" height="300" /><br /><br />Unfortunately, Android accounted for 76.6 percent of all smartphones sold, but considering how few iPhone models Apple actually has in the lineup, 19.7 percent is nothing to sneeze at — especially when it coincides with 46.1 percent year-over-year growth. (By comparison, Windows Phone holds a meager 2.8 percent share, while BlackBerry slipped into near-total irrelevance with 0.4 percent. Ouch!)</p><p>IDC released its calendar year 2014 data as well, painting very much the same picture, with iOS and Android again responsible for a whopping 96.3 percent of worldwide smartphone shipments.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_cook_remembers_jobs_2014_ios_sales_samsung_iphone_memory#commentsNewsacquisitionsandroidapple dailyapple newsBirthdaysCamel AudioIDCmusic softwareSamsungSteve JobsTim CookiPadiPhoneMacWed, 25 Feb 2015 00:58:18 +0000J.R. Bookwalter21337 at http://www.maclife.comThe Week's 10 Hottest Apple News Stories, February 6http://www.maclife.com/article/news/weeks_10_hottest_apple_news_stories_february_6
<!--paging_filter-->http://www.maclife.com/article/news/weeks_10_hottest_apple_news_stories_february_6#commentsGalleryNewsandroidApple StoreApple WatcharchivingautomobilebackupcameraColumnsiOS 8.2iphoneMaclifeMichael FassbenderMoviePhotographyPhotosSeth RoganSiriSteve JobsTheftiPadiPhoneiPodMacSat, 07 Feb 2015 01:51:25 +0000MacLife Staff21274 at http://www.maclife.comApple Daily: Photos for Mac App, Swatch vs. Apple, Apple and Tesla Engineershttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_photos_mac_app_swatch_vs_apple_apple_and_tesla_engineers
<!--paging_filter--><p>At last, the Photos for Mac OS X app is here! Well, it's in beta, at any rate. In other news, Apple's clearly up to something in the automobile industry, judging from the hefty bonuses the company is reportedly offering engineers who work at Tesla. Alas, it's not going exactly as planned. Elsewhere, Swatch claims it'll have a smartwatch ready in the next couple of months that will directly compete with Apple Watch.</p><h3>Apple Includes Photos for Mac App in Latest OS X Beta</h3><p>Earlier today Apple seeded the beta for OS X 10.10.3 to developers, and it includes the long-awaited Photos app for Mac OS X that's intended to replace iPhoto and Aperture.</p><p>Since Photos is essentially a revampoed app with a new name, it will convert and re-use your existing Aperture or iPhoto library. Your photos will all appear following the conversion, after which you can begin syncing photos to and from iCloud. You can still store your libraries on external drives by using the Option + Launch keyboard shortcut as with iPhoto, but in its current form, you can only sync iCloud photos when your library is stored in your home directory's Pictures folder. (Of course, this could change between now and launch.)</p><p><img src="/files/u332541/2015/02/photos-2_620.png" width="620" height="401" /></p><p>There's also a lot of carryover. You still have access to all previously created print products in iPhoto or Aperture. In addition, you can still see and create your slideshows, but the music that was previously used for slides has been replaced with new tunes. Places and Faces are also imported for Photos, letting you see tagged users and geotagged places on a map.</p><p>Several other sources have also tried out the new service, and they seem to like what they're seeing, especially in comparison to iPhoto. It's still considered a "light" photo-editing and organizational tool compared to say, Adobe Lightroom or Aperture, but it's apparently good at what it does.</p><p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EPeRHZIcyUs" width="620" height="349" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><p>The <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/bye-bye-iphoto-apple-reboots-with-photos-for-mac-1423159635" target="_blank">Wall Street Journal</a>, for instance, praised the quick performance of Photos in relation to iPhoto, and added that the iCloud support makes the service a lot more intuitive for newcomers. "You can see the advantage to all this when you edit photos," the paper said. "With iCloud, any change you make on one device will show up moments later everywhere else."</p><p><a href="http://recode.net/2015/02/05/first-look-apples-photos-app-for-mac-os-x/" target="_blank">Re/code</a>, on the other hand, admired the editing tools and iCloud syncing, but lamented the loss of certain professional-level tools found in Aperture. "For example," the site says, "it doesn’t have brushable or curve adjustments and doesn’t support splitting and merging libraries. And you can’t add custom metadata fields in the app."</p><p><a href="http://www.theverge.com/2015/2/5/7982735/apple-new-iphoto-announced-photos-app-for-mac" target="_blank">The Verge</a> went so far as to create its own extensive hands-on for the service, which you can watch through the YouTube clip above.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>Apple Allegedly Trying 'Very Hard' to Win Over Tesla Engineers</h3><p>It's still not clear what Apple's <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_iphones_overtake_android_mystery_apple_car_jobs_biopic_release_date" target="_blank">"mystery" vehicles</a> are for, although most commentators seem to agree that they're either prototypes of self-driving cars or photographers for an unannounced (and largely unrumored) competitor for Google's Street View function in Google Maps. But something's clearly up regarding automobiles and the Cupertino company, as Tesla CEO Elon Musk claims Apple keeps trying to win engineers away from the electric carmaker.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/02/van2.jpg" width="620" height="345" /></p><p><strong>Photo: <a href="http://claycord.com/2015/02/03/update-the-mystery-van-driving-around-claycord/" target="_blank">Claycord</a></strong></p><p>In a <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-05/want-elon-musk-to-hire-you-at-tesla-work-for-apple?cmpid=yhoo" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a> report, Musk claims that Apple has enticed Tesla engineers with $250,000 signing bonuses and 60 percent raises, but thus far, Tim Cook and friends have been able to win over only a few engineers. Indeed, Apple's having a hard enough time holding on to its own employees, as over 150 former denizens of Cupertino have reportedly made their way to Tesla. If that number sounds big, it is. So far, more Tesla engineers have come from Apple than from anywhere else.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>Swatch Planning to Compete with Apple Watch</h3><p>Much like <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_watch_pressure_builds_tag_heuer_announces_smartwatch_plans" target="_blank">TAG Heuer</a>, Swatch is changing its tune concerning the Apple Watch, jumping from a position of icy dismissal to what looks like panic. According to an <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-05/swatch-plans-smartwatch-to-compete-with-apple-watch-s-debut" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a> interview with CEO Nick Hayek, in fact, the watchmaker plans to have its own smartwatch ready to ship within "three months," putting its own device into easy competition with Apple's long-awaited wearable.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/02/swatch-logo.jpg" width="620" height="174" /></p><p>Hayek trumpets some attractive-sounding features in the interview, but it remains to be seen how they'll work in practice. For one, he claims his company's smartwatch can connect to the internet "without having to be charged" and that it will allow a form of mobile payments, although currently it only works with large Swiss grocery chains.</p><p>Hayek also said the device would be compatible with Android and Windows phones, but made no mention of iOS. Making this a little personal, are we, Mr. Hayek?</p><p><em>Follow this article's writer, <a href="https://twitter.com/LeifJohnson" target="_blank">Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_photos_mac_app_swatch_vs_apple_apple_and_tesla_engineers#commentsNewsandroidApple WatchCarsElon MuskGoogleRumorsself-driving carsspeculationstreet viewSwatchTeslawindows phoneFri, 06 Feb 2015 01:52:30 +0000Leif Johnson21270 at http://www.maclife.comiPhone 6 Spurs Spike in Trade-Ins of Android-Powered Deviceshttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/iphone_6_spurs_spike_tradeins_androidpowered_devices
<!--paging_filter--><p>It looks as though all those claims of former Android device users jumping ship for the iPhone 6 were true, after all. A new report from <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-18/apple-s-new-iphones-seen-fueling-switch-from-android.html" target="_blank">Bloomberg </a>states that trade-ins for Samsung smartphones have tripled over at Gazelle, and that number may reach even higher. Indeed, the report states that almost a third of the the site's Android users plan to switch to Apple, with 39 percent reporting that the bigger screens are the deciding factor.</p><p>Sharyn Funamura, a lawyer in Berkeley, California, seems representative of the trend. Funamura had been loyal to Samsung and BlackBerry before that, but when Apple "finally addressed a lot of the reasons why I hadn’t bought an iPhone yet, then I just said, ‘OK, I bought your phone.'"</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2014/09/iphone6gray.jpg" width="620" height="254" /></p><p>Similar reports are coming in from analyst firm RBC, which claims that a whopping 26 percent of iPhone buyers are purchasing Apple's handset for the first time. And all this comes at a time when sales of Samsung's Galaxy S5 weren't nearly as strong as expected despite heavy marketing and product placement.</p><p>"We’re seeing a higher propensity to switch," said Chris Sullivan, CEO of Gazelle. Sullivan claims that the larger screen size and the improved functionality of the phone make a "strong and compelling product" that should lure many Android users over to Apple's orchard.</p><p>The phones themselves will be available starting tomorrow, September 19, although pre-order shipping times have already slipped to seven to 10 days for the iPhone 6 and a distressing three to four weeks for the iPhone 6 Plus. Want one but haven't pre-ordered? There's always a chance you could get one by visiting your local Apple Store — but watch out for those lines.</p><p><em>Follow this article's writer, <a href="https://twitter.com/LeifJohnson" target="_blank">Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/iphone_6_spurs_spike_tradeins_androidpowered_devices#commentsNewsandroidiphoneiphone 6iPhone 6 PlusSamsungtrade-inThu, 18 Sep 2014 23:58:04 +0000Leif Johnson20655 at http://www.maclife.comApple Releases iPhone Transition Guide for Former Android Usershttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_releases_iphone_transition_guide_former_android_users
<!--paging_filter--><p>It's commonly thought that a significant number of people use Android-powered devices over iPhones on account of the larger screens on handsets made by Samsung and other companies; Apple hopes it can win them back with the release of the iPhone 6. To that end (and a day ahead of the public release of iOS 8), the company today released <a href="http://support.apple.com/kb/HT6407?viewlocale=en_US" target="_blank">a guide </a>for former Android users that teaches them how to migrate their data to their new, larger iPhones.</p><p>Some of the information is rather straightforward, such as the way it describes adding existing e-mail accounts to an iPhone. Somewhat surprisingly, the guide recommends a third-party app like&nbsp;<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/copy-my-data/id870099476?mt=8" target="_blank">Copy My Data</a>&nbsp;for help in migrating information such as photos, calendars, and contacts.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2014/09/android.jpg" width="620" height="363" /></p><p>Apple also takes the opportunity to play up its iCloud suite of apps, suggesting that users can open various documents and spreadsheets from other programs via its own Pages, Keynote, and Numbers apps (and via their iCloud counterparts). In addition, the document contains information on how to transfer photos, videos, books, and music to a new iPhone with the help of iTunes and <a href="https://www.android.com/filetransfer/" target="_blank">Android File Transfer</a> on either a Mac or PC.</p><p>Apple CEO Tim Cook certainly thinks the upcoming <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/iphone-6-iphone-6-plus-details-features-date-price" target="_self">iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus</a> will see massive adoption rates from former Android users; indeed, in a recent <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/09/09/cook-on-apples-big-day-new-phones-will-trigger-mother-of-all-upgrades/?mg=blogs-wsj&amp;url=http%253A%252F%252Fblogs.wsj.com%252Fdigits%252F2014%252F09%252F09%252Fcook-on-apples-big-day-new-phones-will-trigger-mother-of-all-upgrades" target="_blank">Wall Street Journal</a> interview, he called upcoming iPhone 6 "the mother of all upgrades." The phones themselves will start arriving in stores this Friday, September 19.</p><p><em>Follow this article's writer, <a href="https://twitter.com/LeifJohnson" target="_blank">Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_releases_iphone_transition_guide_former_android_users#commentsNewsandroidAppsCopy My DatadisplayiOS 8iphoneiphone 6iPhone 6 PluslargeScreentransitionTue, 16 Sep 2014 23:42:48 +0000Leif Johnson20645 at http://www.maclife.comOvernight Recap: Apple CEO Works on iPad, Mikey Digital Mic Adds Lightninghttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/overnight_recap_apple_ceo_works_ipad_mikey_digital_mic_adds_lightning
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/mikey_digital_with_lightning_620px.png" alt="Mikey Digital with Lightning" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>Fancy some two-day shipping with your next Amazon order? <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/business/amazon-entrepreneurs/10961531/two-day-delivery-europe.html" target="_blank"><em>The Telegraph</em> reported Thursday</a> that Amazon Prime customers throughout the European Union can now enjoy the same 48-hour delivery service Americans already take for granted on more than three million products, all at no extra change. Europeans, before you go rushing off to place your next Amazon order, stick with us through the rest of the Overnight Recap!</p><h3>Apple CEO Claims He Does 80 Percent of Work on iPad</h3><p><a href="http://online.wsj.com/articles/ibm-apple-want-consumer-apps-catered-to-corporate-1405552056" target="_blank"><em>The Wall Street Journal</em> reported Thursday</a> that Apple CEO Tim Cook manages to do 80 percent of his work on nothing more than an iPad — and the executive sees "no reason why everyone shouldn't be like that." That revelation was one part of an interview which fleshed out the finer points of Apple's new partnership with IBM, which aims to encroach upon the territory once dominated by the likes of BlackBerry and Microsoft. "Imagine enterprise apps being as simple as the consumer apps that we've all gotten used to," Cook added. "That's the way it should be." If anyone can do it, we'd certainly be placing our bets on Cupertino.</p><h3>Mikey Digital Microphone Now Available with Lightning Connector</h3><p>Looking for an ultra-compact stereo microphone that works directly with your late-model iOS devices? <a href="http://bluemic.com/mikey_digital/" target="_blank">Blue Microphones announced Thursday</a> that its popular Mikey Digital now comes equipped with a Lightning connector that works with the latest iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad models. Priced at $99.99, the Mikey Digital claims to capture pristine stereo audio with most any audio or video app, and even intelligently adjusts the input for fluctuating volume levels. The Lightning-capable Mikey Digital is now available for purchase from Amazon and Sweetwater Sound, and is coming soon to other authorized Blue retailers around the globe.</p><h3>Microsoft Confirms 18,000 Job Cuts, Ditches Android Devices</h3><p>Rather than wait until Friday to share bad news like most tech companies do, <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2014/jul14/07-17announcement1.aspx" target="_blank">Microsoft announced Thursday</a> that it would be cutting up to 18,000 jobs over the next year, with recent hires from the Nokia Devices and Services division making up the bulk of the cuts — 12,500 to be exact, or roughly half of the employees who came along for the acquisition ride. <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2014/jul14/07-17announcement2.aspx" target="_blank">In a separate announcement</a>, former Nokia boss Stephen Elop added that Nokia's brief flirtation with Android smartphones would also be getting tossed out in favor of "additional low-cost Lumia devices" powered by Windows Phone.</p><h3>Incipio Debuts Ultra-Thin Steno Bluetooth Keyboard Folio for iPad Air</h3><p>Still in search of just the right iPad Air case? <a href="http://blog.incipio.com/news/incipio-bluetooth-keyboard-folio-for-ipad-air-now-available.html" target="_blank">Incipio announced Thursday</a> a new contender known as <a href="http://www.incipio.com/cases/ipad-cases/ipad-air-cases-and-covers/steno-hard-shell-ultra-thin-keyboard-folio-case-for-ipad-air.html" target="_blank">Steno</a>, billed as an "ultra-thin Bluetooth keyboard folio" capable of transforming Apple's latest tablet into a full-fledged mobile workstation. Priced at $99.99, the Steno features a 78-key sliding keyboard and 14 quick-access shortcut functions (including a dedicated screenshot key), and it promises optimal key spacing for maximum typing efficiency — even without a desk or table. Incipio Steno is now available from the company's website and "premium retailers" nationwide.</p><h3>Realmac Announces Markdown Editor Typed for Mac</h3><p>Developers and web coders everywhere have embraced the power of Markdown, and now the folks at <a href="http://realmacsoftware.com/typed" target="_blank">Realmac Software are embarking</a> on a new Mac editor dedicated to that kind of workflow with Typed. At the moment, Typed is still cooking in the Realmac labs, but the company promises a preview video next month, as well as a confirmed shipping date for the actual software. Not sure what the heck Markdown even does? Realmac has posted a brief FAQ page as a primer to what Typed will be capable of, and promises support for the plain-text format will also be coming to Ember and RapidWeaver 6 in the near future.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="https://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/overnight_recap_apple_ceo_works_ipad_mikey_digital_mic_adds_lightning#commentsNewsandroidApple Inc.IBMIncipioiPad AirLightningMicrosoftMikey Digitalovernight recapRealmac SoftwareTim CookTypediPadiPhoneiPodMacFri, 18 Jul 2014 11:30:00 +0000J.R. Bookwalter20336 at http://www.maclife.comWeekend Recap: iPhone Gains in USA, TSA Charged Up, Adobe Revel iOS Snafuhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/weekend_recap_iphone_gains_usa_tsa_charged_adobe_revel_ios_snafu
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/airport_security_checkpoint_620px.png" alt="Airport security checkpoint" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>Our fellow Americans: Welcome back from a three-day weekend of barbecues and fireworks! July is officially here in full force, and you won't need to feel like you missed out during that hamburger and hot dog coma, because we've rounded up all the hottest tech news from the long weekend and are presenting it here for your reading pleasure.</p><h3>iPhone Gains Ground in U.S. Market Over Android</h3><p>Apple received a round of fireworks ahead of the 4th of July holiday as <a href="http://www.comscore.com/Insights/Market-Rankings/comScore-Reports-May-2014-U.S.-Smartphone-Subscriber-Market-Share" target="_blank">comScore announced Thursday</a> the latest smartphone subscriber market share numbers for May. Cupertino was the top smartphone manufacturer with 41.9 percent of the U.S. market, although Google's Android remained perched atop the top smartphone platform ranking with a 52.1 percent market share. Apple's smartphone numbers jumped only a modest 0.6 percent from comScore's February numbers, while overall the U.S. now has 169 million smartphone owners. As far as smartphone apps go, Facebook holds a commanding lead with 76.4 percent of the U.S. market, while Apple's own Maps and iTunes Radio held their own at 25.3 and 21.6 percent, respectively.</p><h3>Facebook Messenger Finally Arrives on iPad</h3><p>This one seems like a long time in coming, but Facebook released <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/facebook-messenger/id454638411?mt=8" target="_blank">version 7.0 of Facebook Messenger</a> ahead of the long weekend, finally bringing the native text and calling experience to the iPad. The update also allows videos shot within Messenger to be saved to the Camera Roll of the same device, as well as unspecified reliability fixes that are always welcome.</p><h3>Charge Up That iPhone Before Flying Home from Overseas</h3><p>Headed overseas anytime soon? You'll want to make sure your iPhone or other electronic device is charged up and ready to be powered on while going through security on your way back to the United States. The Transportation Security Administration (better known as TSA) <a href="http://www.tsa.gov/press/releases/2014/07/06/enhanced-security-measures-certain-airports-overseas" target="_blank">announced Sunday</a> that direct flights from "certain overseas airports" back to the U.S. will now be implementing "enhanced security measures" that could require travelers to "power up some devices, including cell phones." So what happens if your handset is out of juice? "Powerless devices will not be permitted onboard the aircraft," the TSA bluntly explains, while adding such travelers "may also undergo additional screening." Keep that iPhone charged up, people!</p><h3>Adobe Revel for iOS Update Leaves Users Unable to Access</h3><p>It's been a rough week for users of Adobe Revel for iOS, the cloud photo and video storage app. Starting with a June 29 update to version 2.3.2, the app crashes at startup — assuming it will even install completely. The botched update appears to have caught Adobe by surprise ahead of the 4th of July weekend as frustrated users filled up the app reviews and Adobe Communities with complaints. For their part, <a href="https://forums.adobe.com/thread/1513106" target="_blank">Adobe blames the glitch</a> on "an unexpected interoperability issue" but says they're "working closely with Apple to resolve the issue as soon as possible" and have "re-submitted an update to see if this can help us narrow down the failure," although no such update has yet appeared on the App Store over a week after the issue first appeared.</p><h3>Samsung Mocks iPhone Users in Latest Galaxy S5 Ad</h3><p><a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2014/07/03/samsung-bashes-iphone-in-new-ad/" target="_blank">MacRumors reported Thursday</a> that Samsung is on the attack against Apple again with a new Galaxy S5 commercial which mocks iPhone users for having short battery life on their handsets. "Don't be a wall hugger," the ad concludes, immediately bringing to mind nearly the same comment made by BlackBerry CEO John Chen a few months back. "There they are. Clustered around power outlets, near the recycling bins, stained carpeting, and bathrooms. Tethered to the wall. Denied the freedom to enjoy even the most basic things, like grabbing a drink, or sharing a laugh with your co-workers. Or sitting with someone you know. You're stuck here until your battery says so," the narration mocks amidst a montage of iPhone users seemingly tethered to an AC power outlet.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="https://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p><em>(Images courtesy of Wired and Fox News)</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/weekend_recap_iphone_gains_usa_tsa_charged_adobe_revel_ios_snafu#commentsNews4th of JulyAdobe RevelandroidApp StoreApple Inc.comscoreFacebook MessengerGalaxy S5TSAweekend recapiPadiPhoneiPodMacMon, 07 Jul 2014 12:28:16 +0000J.R. Bookwalter20272 at http://www.maclife.comOvernight Recap: iWork for iCloud Update, Acronis True Image for Mac, FireChathttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/overnight_recap_iwork_icloud_update_acronis_true_image_mac_firechat
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/introducing_iwork_for_icloud_620px.png" alt="iWork for iCloud" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>Google's I/O developer conference kicks off today in San Francisco, and perhaps as a preview of things to come, <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2014/6/24/5837254/freemium-apps-dominate-google-play-revenues" target="_blank">The Verge reported yesterday</a> that freemium apps on Google Play now account for 98 percent of worldwide revenue for the Android platform. Curiously, Japan is billed as "the world's biggest spender" on in-app purchases thanks to "addictive mobile games," but here's hoping this trend doesn't absorb the iOS App Store as well. Here's a handful of other tidbits you might have missed on Tuesday...</p><h3>iWork for iCloud Updated with Last Used Document Settings</h3><p><a href="http://www.loopinsight.com/2014/06/24/iwork-for-icloud-updated/" target="_blank">The Loop reported Tuesday</a> that Apple quietly updated iWork for iCloud, allowing the web-based versions of Pages, Numbers, and Keynote to remember the last used document settings, including zoom level, show/hide guides or format panels, and much more. The web apps also now suggest your most recent screen name when opening shared documents, adds the ability to right-click to mask images and now includes tips on using keyboard shortcuts for cut, copy, and paste when right-clicking objects.</p><h3>Acronis Debuts Personal Backup Solution for Mac Users</h3><p>Data protection leader <a href="http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/06/prweb11969534.htm" target="_blank">Acronis announced Tuesday</a> the availability of Acronis True Image for Mac, which the software maker touts as "the only full system image backup solution offering dual protection" for Apple desktops and laptops. Previously available only for Windows, Acronis True Image for Mac backs up the entire system, applications, user data, and settings both locally and online, and is also capable of backing up and restoring a Parallels Desktop virtual machine in its active state, complete with all Windows applications, documents, and settings. Acronis True Image for Mac is now available for $49.99 for a single computer, or a three-Mac license for $79.99; Acronis Cloud storage starts at $2.99 per month for 50GB.</p><h3>FireChat Update Enables Chat Between iOS, Android Devices</h3><p><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/firechat/id719829352?mt=8" target="_blank">Open Garden released FireChat for iOS 2.5.1 this week</a>, an update the company says should have been called version 3.0 for one new feature alone: The ability to chat off the grid between iOS and Android devices. Previous versions were unable to hop the platform pond and communicate with Android smartphones or tablets — an oversight that's now been rectified. The app also now allows users to create "firechats" and invite friends for "live and anonymous discussions" with just a few clicks, in addition to joining chats already in progress all over the world.</p><h3>Apple's New Retail VP Now Blogging on LinkedIn</h3><p>Now here's something we thought we'd never see from an Apple executive: A blog post on LinkedIn. Senior vice president of Apple retail Angela Ahrendts <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20140623211315-269697626-starting-anew" target="_blank">did just that on Monday</a> with a post entitled "Starting Anew," and although she never specifically mentioned Apple by name, she openly discusses some of the challenges in making a "life-altering decision to start anew." The post seems to fall in line with what many are calling "the new, more open Apple" with CEO Tim Cook at the helm, which has seen Cook and marketing boss Phil Schiller both actively posting on Twitter these days.</p><h3>Pebble Partners with Misfit for Fitness Tracker, iOS App Incoming</h3><p>One of the better smartwatch contenders just got a little more awesome Tuesday as <a href="https://blog.getpebble.com/2014/06/24/pebble-makes-fitness-shine-partners-with-misfit/" target="_blank">Pebble announced a partnership with Misfit</a> for a new watchapp that counts steps and tracks activity using nothing more than the device already strapped to their wrist. The makers of the Shine fitness tracker are also promising an iOS app update coming soon that adds support for Pebble watches and will track additional metrics including calories burned and distance traveled, with additional functionality promised from the two companies in future updates.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="https://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/overnight_recap_iwork_icloud_update_acronis_true_image_mac_firechat#commentsNewsAcronisandroidAngela AhrendtsbackupsBlogsFireChatiWork for iCloudlinkedinMisfitovernight recappebbleiPadiPhoneiPodMacWed, 25 Jun 2014 12:25:03 +0000J.R. Bookwalter20209 at http://www.maclife.comOvernight Recap: Apple Camp 2014, Parallels Access 2.0, Garmin Viagohttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/overnight_recap_apple_camp_2014_parallels_access_20_garmin_viago
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/apple_camp_2014_620px.png" alt="Apple Camp 2014" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>Amidst rumors <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/samsung_talks_acquire_nuance_company_behind_siri" target="_blank">Google is about to swallow up voice recognition provider Nuance</a>, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dominos-pizza-usa/id436491861?mt=8" target="_blank">Domino's Pizza</a> has teamed up with the current Apple partner to provide a new voice ordering assistant in the latest version of its U.S.-based app, which pretty much brings us full circle back to ordering on the phone, although without any human interaction. That's progress... right?</p><h3>Apple Retail Announces Free Summer Creative Camp for Kids</h3><p>Looking for something to keep the kids busy this summer? Apple Retail Stores will again be hosting <a href="http://www.applersvp.com" target="_blank">free summer camp workshops for kids </a>eight to 12, where they'll learn to make movies on iMovie as well as create an interactive book. Campers will create elements using the iPad, then apply the finishing touches using software on Mac, with an Apple Camp Showcase at the end for sharing finished projects with the world. Kids must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, and are welcome to bring their own digital camera or video camera for the Stories in Motion workshop (otherwise the store will provide one).</p><h3>Parallels Access 2.0 Lets iPhone, Android Users in On Fun</h3><p><a href="http://www.parallels.com/news/id,34004" target="_blank">Parallels announced Tuesday</a> the release of <a href="http://www.parallels.com/products/access/" target="_blank">Parallels Access 2.0</a>, a major update to the company's formerly iPad-only remote-access app for Mac and PC which is now a universal build with iPhone support. New features include Facebook login support, a file browser, adjustable screen resolutions, and the ability to use a tablet or smartphone microphone for the remote desktop. Last but not least, Access is also available on Android devices for the first time, and it's cheaper than ever to subscribe at $19.99 per year or $34.99 for two years ($29.99 through the end of June) for access to up to five computers on an unlimited number of devices; new business subscriptions are also available.</p><h3>Users Report Increasing Problem with iTunes Match Uploads</h3><p>Having issues uploading unrecognized tracks via iTunes Match lately? <a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2014/06/16/itunes-match-outage/" target="_blank">MacRumors reported Monday</a> that you may not be alone, with an ever-expanding thread of complaints slowly filling up the Apple Support forums over the last week or two. Although the $24.99-per-year service appears to match tracks against the extensive iTunes catalog just fine, unrecognized tracks instead stall during the upload phase, then unceremoniously end without ever actually finishing. No word yet from Apple on what might be causing the problem, which is likely a server-side issue that will hopefully clear up soon.</p><h3>Garmin Goes for Cheaper Mobile Navigation with Viago</h3><p>Now that both Apple and Google offer free navigation apps on their respective iOS and Android platforms, what's a veteran of the GPS space to do? Garmin is now taking a unique approach with a new app called <a href="http://sites.garmin.com/viago/" target="_blank">Viago</a>, which promises "navigation tailored to fit your needs." Offering international map browsing, regional navigation, lane assist with "photoreal junction" view, and traffic and speed info, the 99-cent app can be customized with optional upgrades via in-app purchases, including a free bonus package with new map themes and vehicle icons for iOS users.</p><h3>Box Scoops Up Streem, Adds iWork Sync Support</h3><p>The folks at Box were busy on Monday with a pair of announcements. <a href="https://blog.box.com/2014/06/box-acquiring-streem-bringing-the-cloud-to-your-desktop/" target="_blank">First up is word the company has acquired Streem</a>, an upstart storage service that allows users to store documents, presentations, videos, and other files via a cloud drive mounted on the desktop. More immediately, <a href="http://blog.box.com/2014/06/support-for-syncing-iwork-and-package-files/" target="_blank">Box Sync now supports Mac package files</a>, which will be good news for iWork users, since they'll be able to finally sync Pages, Numbers, and Keynote files between the desktop and Box as a single file, exactly the way it appears on the desktop. The only requirement is upgrading to Box Sync 4 — a free update that's available now.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="https://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/overnight_recap_apple_camp_2014_parallels_access_20_garmin_viago#commentsNewsandroidApp StoreApple CampboxgarminiTunes MatchiWorkKidsovernight recapParallels AccessStreemViagoiPadiPhoneiPodMacTue, 17 Jun 2014 12:46:24 +0000J.R. Bookwalter20158 at http://www.maclife.comApple Says iMessage Glitch Will Be Fixed with "Future Software Update"http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_says_imessage_glitch_will_be_fixed_future_software_update
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/imessage_not_delivered_620px.png" alt="iMessage" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>iMessage has been making headlines again in recent days, but unfortunately for Apple, not in a good way — a problem the company is now acknowledging, and plans to fix in a forthcoming software update.<br /><br /><a href="http://recode.net/2014/05/22/apples-imessage-issue-goes-from-bad-to-worse-with-server-glitch/" target="_blank">Re/code today reported</a> that iPhone owners looking to jump ship to Android or other platforms may finally be getting some relief for persistent issues where iMessage wouldn't allow their SMS text messages to follow them to a new device.<br /><br />Reports of former iPhone owners failing to receive incoming text messages after moving to a new, non-iOS device date back to the introduction of iMessage with iOS 5, and more recently have sparked a class-action lawsuit in California.<br /><br />While Apple wouldn't comment on that pending litigation, a spokesperson did issue a comment regarding recent server-side iMessage bugs, as well as confirm plans to stomp out remaining headaches with an upcoming software patch.<br /><br />“We recently fixed a server-side iMessage bug which was causing an issue for some users, and we have an additional bug fix in a future software update,” Apple told Re/code. “For users still experiencing an issue, please contact AppleCare.”<br /><br />iPhone owners looking to defect to another platform can help prevent this text message "black hole" by turning off iMessage prior to switching to a new handset, then making sure the same phone number has been unchecked from iMessage settings on any iPad or iPod touch devices — although some users claim this simple remedy alone may not do the trick.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_says_imessage_glitch_will_be_fixed_future_software_update#commentsNewsandroidApple Inc.class actionglitchiMessagesettingssmartphonessmsSoftware Updatesswitcherstext messagesiPadiPhoneiPodMacThu, 22 May 2014 12:48:21 +0000J.R. Bookwalter20001 at http://www.maclife.comSmartphone Displays Under 5 Inches Are Starting to Become Scarcehttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/smartphone_displays_under_5_inches_are_starting_become_scarce
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/iphone_5s_with_bigger_android_phones_620px.png" alt="iPhone 5s vs. bigger Android phones" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>Judging from new research data, the <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/iphone_5s_review" target="_self">iPhone 5s</a> display may soon look quaint and diminutive against a veritable army of new smartphones featuring screens larger than five inches.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.canalys.com/newsroom/third-smart-phones-shipped-q1-had-5-plus-displays" target="_blank">Canalys reported Wednesday</a> that over one-third of the 279.4 million smartphones shipped during the first three months of this year featured displays larger than five inches, a potentially ominous sign that consumers want to go big or go home.<br /><br />Big-screen smartphones particularly made an impression in China and Asia Pacific markets, where they made up 39 and 43 percent of the mix, respectively, compared to 34 percent of shipments worldwide.<br /><br />Perhaps more troubling for smartphone makers like <a href="http://www.apple.com" target="_blank">Apple</a> who have no smartphones with screens above five inches is the growth rate of such shipments: 369 percent, which suggests consumers have a voracious appetite for larger displays.<br /><br />"Apple plainly needs a larger-screen smart phone to remain competitive, and it will look to address this in the coming months," remarked Canalys analyst Jessica Kwee, noting that Samsung holds a commanding lead with 44 percent of five-inch or larger devices.<br /><br />"Consumers now expect high-end devices to have large displays, and Apple’s absence in this market will clearly not last long," Kwee elaborated.<br /><br />Apple is expected to introduce a 4.7-inch version of the iPhone 6 later this year, and a rumored 5.5-inch could debut at the same time, although manufacturing issues reportedly could prevent the larger version from shipping until early next year.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/smartphone_displays_under_5_inches_are_starting_become_scarce#commentsNewsandroidApple Inc.Asia PacificCanalysChinaconsumersiPhone 5Siphone 6quarterly shipmentsresearchSamsungsmartphonesiPhoneThu, 15 May 2014 13:19:33 +0000J.R. Bookwalter19957 at http://www.maclife.comNFC-Based Mobile Payments Could Finally Come to iPhone This Yearhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/nfcbased_mobile_payments_could_finally_come_iphone_year
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/iphone_nfc_620px.png" alt="iPhone NFC" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>Near-field communication (NFC) has wound up in a lot of Android devices over the last few years, enabling retail shoppers to pay with a tap. With each passing year, Apple has been rumored to finally adopt such technology, so it should come as little surprise to see it surface again in 2014.</p><p>Global investment newswire <a href="https://www.brightwire.com/article/Apple-China-UnionPay-reach-NFC-payment-agreement-Next-iPhone-likely-to-include-NFC-payment-function---source.html" target="_blank">BrightWire is reporting</a> that Apple is "likely" to incorporate NFC payment technology into the next generation iPhone, presumably the rumored <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/iphone_6_mockup_video_brings_rumored_specs_life" target="_blank">iPhone 6</a> which is widely expected to arrive later this year.<br /><br />According to "a source close to the matter," Apple has already inked a deal with China UnionPay for a "mobile payment service" that will take advantage of the feature, which typically involves a small secure element attached to the internal hardware.<br /><br />In the UnionPay scenario, customers would be able to download their bank card to Passbook and make mobile payments at more than three million "QuickPass" point-of-sale terminals across mainland China. Apple has reportedly invited other major Chinese banks to also participate.<br /><br />NFC has been widely rumored for the last several iPhone models, but each year seems to come and go without Apple actually adopting the technology. Accessory makers like Incipio have tried to get around the problem by introducing bulky <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/isispowered_incipio_cashwrap_now_available_att" target="_blank">NFC-equipped cases</a> in tandem with carrier-backed services such as Isis Wallet, to mixed results.</p><p>Earlier this year, a patent which covers near-field communication was discovered at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, reigniting rumors that 2014 could finally be the year Apple goes NFC.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/nfcbased_mobile_payments_could_finally_come_iphone_year#commentsNewsandroidApple Inc.Chinaiphone 6mobile paymentsnear field communicationNFCNFC chipPassbookRumorsiPhoneMon, 12 May 2014 13:12:49 +0000J.R. Bookwalter19937 at http://www.maclife.comStudy Claims iPhone Users Prefer to Fly, While Android Owners Take the Bushttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/study_claims_iphone_users_prefer_fly_while_android_owners_take_bus
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/ios_vs_android_study_620px.png" alt="iOS vs. Android study" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>Is there some kind of class distinction between iOS and Android users? A new study says yes, and actually draws a line in the sand based on what each type of device owner prefers to drink and their preferred method of travel.<br /><br /><a href="http://recode.net/2014/05/08/android-users-are-more-likely-to-take-the-bus-while-the-frequent-fliers-choose-iphones/" target="_blank">Re/code reported Thursday</a> that a new study from Battery Ventures attempts to offer some insight into how iOS and Android users gravitate toward their favorite mobile platform, based on their lifestyles.<br /><br />The demographic research is likely to become fresh bait for advertisers, given how different Apple and Google users appear to be from each other, at least on paper.<br /><br />For example, when it comes to alcoholic consumption, iPhone users apparently prefer wine to beer, but are also "more likely to own stock and to have flown on a plane in the past year," the report elaborated.<br /><br />Android smartphone users, by comparison, are described as being more religious folks who enjoy eating at McDonald's, smoke tobacco and are "more likely to rely on public transportation" than the jet setting iPhone crowd.<br /><br />At first glance, the study seems fairly obvious: After all, most iOS products are priced higher than Android, so it's a simple matter of economics, right? Not so fast. Battery Ventures' Jonathan Sills claims many of the differences vanish once the user base is adjusted for income.<br /><br />For example, the study also discovered that both iOS and Android owners were just as likely to own a home rather than rent, and preferred to own a handgun. So, they've got that in common...<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p><em>(Image courtesy of Re/code and Battery Ventures)</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/study_claims_iphone_users_prefer_fly_while_android_owners_take_bus#commentsNewsandroidApple Inc.Battery VenturesclassesFlyingGoogleiphonepublic transportationsmartphonesstudySurveysiPadiPhoneiPodFri, 09 May 2014 12:22:31 +0000J.R. Bookwalter19924 at http://www.maclife.comIt's Not Just Apple: Worldwide Tablet Growth Stalls for Nearly Everyonehttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/its_not_just_apple_worldwide_tablet_growth_stalls_nearly_everyone
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/ipad_customer_in_china_620px.png" alt="iPad customer" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>Apple appears to have hit a brick wall in the first three months of 2014 where iPad growth is concerned, but it turns out they may not be alone: Consumers are finding few compelling reasons to upgrade existing tablets.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS24833314" target="_blank">IDC published the results of its quarterly worldwide tablet shipments on Thursday</a>, and judging from those numbers, Apple wasn't the only consumer electronics manufacturer who faced the music during the first three months of the year.<br /><br />Apple announced last week that it had shipped 16.4 million iPads during the first quarter of 2014, a number that disappointed analysts who were expecting sales more in the neighborhood of 19 million units. It's also a steep drop from Cupertino's previous quarter with 26 million units, as well as year-over-year shipments of 19.5 million.<br /><br />As it turns out, Apple's rivals suffered a similar fate, which IDC program vice president of devices and displays Tom Mainelli blamed on the "rise of large-screen phones and consumers who are holding on to their existing tablets for ever longer periods of time."<br /><br />Apple still holds a commanding lead in overall tablet market share at 32.5 percent, with the iPad maker's only real threat coming from Samsung with 22.3 percent, a year-over-year increase from 17.5 percent in the first quarter of 2013. ASUS comes in a distant third with five percent, followed by Lenovo and Amazon.<br /><br />Curiously, 34.2 percent of the tablet market share is made up of everyone not listed above, which would include Microsoft and its newly acquired Nokia devices and services division.<br /><br />IDC notes that Android continues to be the dominant mobile operating system with a roughly two-thirds share of the market, although Windows devices including "sleeper hits" like the two-in-one ASUS T100 appear to be appealing to consumers looking for a tablet that's "good enough."<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/its_not_just_apple_worldwide_tablet_growth_stalls_nearly_everyone#commentsNewsAmazonandroidApple Inc.AsusIDCiPad AiriPad MiniLenovoMarket ShareMicrosoftSamsungtabletsWindows 8iPadFri, 02 May 2014 12:22:36 +0000J.R. Bookwalter19879 at http://www.maclife.com